Ranking all 16 Big 12 football stadium atmospheres from worst to first

Yahoo

2 days ago

The Big 12 might not be the SEC or Big Ten when it comes to overall athletic tradition, but when it comes to college football, it is no slouch. Several iconic programs, brands and stadiums call the Big 12 home. With the middle of the offseason in full swing, it is the perfect time to evaluate the off-field qualities that make college football unique.
Earlier this month, we ranked the Big 12's 16 football stadiums, as well as the conference's top home and road uniforms, its best helmets and which stadiums hold the largest crowds. With so much change around the Big 12 in recent years, the conference looks and feels a lot different, and if we are being honest, has lost some of its luster with Oklahoma and Texas no longer in the fold.
Still, several storied programs are helping shape the identity of the new-look Big 12 — and Colorado is leading the charge. A founding member of the conference in 1996, the Buffaloes are back to where they belong and shining in nearly every aesthetic category. They boast the Big 12's best stadium, the sixth-best home uniform, the fifth-best road uniform and the second-best helmet. Under head coach Deion Sanders, Colorado has reemerged as a nationally relevant brand.
We have another ranking to dive into: evaluating the Big 12's toughest venues to visit. College football is all about the atmosphere, so which teams take advantage of a raucous crowd?
Here are our power rankings of the Big 12's 16 stadium atmospheres.
16. David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Kansas Jayhawks)
Capacity: ~40,000 (47,233 before recent renovations)
: 14
It is challenging to rank Kansas, as it has not played any games at its renovated stadium yet. If it resembles the renderings, the Jayhawks' home venue will likely move up this list next year.
15. Space City Financial Stadium (Houston Cougars)
Capacity: 40,000
Stadium rank: 13
Big market college football schools can often lead to worse crowds since there are other things to do. Houston is one of those places. When it fills, it's decent, but it doesn't quite match other Big 12 venues yet.
14. Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati Bearcats)
Capacity: 40,124
Stadium rank: 12
Nippert is the third-oldest stadium in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and underwent significant upgrades in 2015. It has character and an urban vibe, but it has lost considerable crowd support since the glory days under Luke Fickell. It could vault up this ranking if the Bearcats recapture that swagger that saw them go 31-1 at home from 2018-22.
13. FBC Mortgage Stadium (UCF Knights)
Capacity: 44,206
Stadium rank: 16
UCF was dominant during its time in the AAC from 2017 to 2022. The Knights were so good that the stadium's nickname became "The Bounce House." However, consistency depends on the opponent and kickoff time, peaking its ranking at No. 13.
12. Arizona Stadium (Arizona Wildcats)
Capacity: 50,782
Stadium rank: 15
Arizona might have been in the process of turning its home atmosphere around, but then Jedd Fisch left for Washington, and Brent Brennan's first year in charge did not go as planned. If they reverse their current negative trend, it can be a fantastic atmosphere, especially for night games.
11. Mountain America Stadium (Arizona State)
Capacity: 53,599
Stadium rank: 11
Arizona State's home attendance has only increased since Kenny Dillingham took over, but until I see a full season with fans showing up for their team with sky-high expectations, Mountain America Stadium falls just outside our top 10.
10. McLane Stadium (Baylor Bears)
Capacity: 45,140
Stadium rank: 8
McLane is one of the better atmospheres in the conference when the Bears are playing well. Exemplified by their six-game winning streak to end the 2024 regular season and in 2021 when the Bears went 12-2, including a 7-0 home mark. Unfortunately, the energy is not always at max levels, but hopefully that changes this year with an up-and-coming Baylor squad.
9. Folsom Field (Colorado Buffaloes)
Capacity: 50,183
Stadium rank: 8
Folsom Field is a beautiful setting with views of the Flatirons, but when Colorado is bad, the atmosphere is equally as bad. I was there during the 1-11 season, and once the Buffs got down by double digits, the crowds would flock to the exits. The Deion Sanders effect is real in Boulder, but he will have to continue winning to keep CU fans in their seats.
8. Amon G. Carter Stadium (TCU Horned Frogs)
Capacity: 46,000
Stadium rank: 3
Amon G. Carter Stadium is intimate and sleek. It is loud when the Horned Frogs are rolling, especially in big games, such as when Colorado opened the season there in 2023.
7. Jack Trice Stadium (Iowa State Cyclones)
Capacity: 61,500
Stadium rank: 10
Cyclone fans are loyal, and the entire program is underrated. Matt Campbell consistently has Iowa State punching above its weight, and the fans show out when the team wins, which has recently been a lot.
6. Milan Puskar Stadium (West Virginia Mountaineers)
Capacity: 60,000
Stadium rank: 7
Milan Puskar Stadium could fluctuate between having the best stadium atmosphere in the Big 12 and falling outside the top 10, depending on the team's performance. Last time Rich Rodriguez was head coach, it was arguably one of the best environments in the country, and now that he is back, the Mountaineers could be back as well.
5. Rice-Eccles Stadium (Utah Utes)
Capacity: 51,444
Stadium rank: 5
I have been to games at Rice Eccles, and it is electric, but I do think the atmosphere gets overrated at times. It deserves a spot in the top 5, but that is as high as I can go.
4. Boone Pickens Stadium (Oklahoma State Cowboys)
Capacity: 53,855
Stadium rank: 2
Boone Pickens would typically be in the top 3 or possibly even No. 1, but with the drastic step back the program took last year, the atmosphere suffered as well. The fans are right on top of the field, and when the Cowboys are good, it is one of the loudest stadiums in the country.
3. Jones AT&T Stadium (Texas Tech Red Raiders)
Capacity: 60,229
Stadium rank: 4
Tortillas fly, and chaos begins at every Texas Tech home game. Any place that throws tortillas gets a bump in my book. The Red Raiders' home venue is one of the most intimidating places to play after dark.
2. Bill Snyder Family Stadium (Kansas State Wildcats)
Capacity: 50,000
Stadium rank: 9
Not a flashy venue by any means, but the nonstop support is there—a proper college town environment with a loud and loyal fan base.
1. LaVell Edwards Stadium (BYU Cougars)
Capacity: 63,470
Stadium rank: 6
I don't find LaVell Edwards Stadium to be that attractive, but it is a daunting place to play a road game. As the largest stadium in the Big 12, the crowd is automatically loud, add in the high elevation, and you've got yourself a college football atmosphere dream. Night games in Provo are a special kind of electricity that we witnessed multiple times in 2024.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Power ranking all 16 Big 12 football stadium atmospheres